Odds & Ends: Rockies, Orioles, Mets

I like the idea of Bradford on an incetive laden deal. Penny would be a nice addition to the back of the rotation or adding some depth if they sign Marquis or Piniero, but if the Mets are serious about winning and fixing the rotation, Lackey should be their first priority. This rotation looks pretty good:

Santana
Lackey
Pelfrey
Perez
Penny/Marquis/Piniero

Dealing Josh Bell to the O's cost the Dodgers Cliff Lee. Looks a little short-sighted in my opinion.

I'm surprised that certain bloggers haven't used this as an opportunity to rip the Orioles, since either the team will hand over the two corner positions to unproven rookies which is just stupid, or they will go out and sign corner free agents, which is also stupid. They must be watching football games.

For the record, I don't think either one will start the year with the big club. Bell still needs work on his defense and hitting from the right side (assuming he'll *ever* get good that way). I think he'll get the Wieters treatment, i.e. a midseason callup hopefully to stay.

Snyder is a gap-to-gap hitter, and Norfolk's park is a black hole that makes Petco look like Coors Field. His performance in AAA the second half of last year was a result of this. I think that Snyder gets the same midseason treatment unless he wins the job outright in spring training. I know that MacPhail has said that they need to acquire a big bat, but unless that big bat is Jermaine Dye to be the DH I don't think that it will be an enticing situation for someone to come into. The three OF positions are set, along with C, 2B, as well as 1B and 3B by the end of the season.

If the O's can sign Dye as a FA, trade for Hardy to play SS, and pick up a free agent SP (Lackey is a reach, but perhaps Sheets on the rebound?) and about 14 relievers, I think the O's can be a .500 team next year.

lol ^